The US is giving Taiwan’s F-16s a welcome boost of firepower with AGM-154 bombs as tensions with China ratchet up. Raytheon Missile Systems received a $68.4 million contract to build 50 glide bombs.
The order is expected to be completed in March 2028.
Taiwan’s fleet of F-16s is set for an upgrade when it receives brand-new glide bombs from the US.
The US awarded a $68.4 million contract to Raytheon Missile Systems to build and deliver 50 AGM-154 glide bombs, per a notice from the Department of Defense on Friday.
According to the notice, the AGM-154s will be built primarily in Arizona. The order is expected to be completed in March 2028.
The AGM-154s are known as “fire-and-forget” weapons that do not require external guidance after they are launched.
Gliding bombs can be installed on various aircraft, including F-16s, F/A-18 Hornets, and F-35 Lightning II.
Taiwan has a fleet of 139 F-16s and is set to take delivery of an additional 66 F-16 fighters from the US.
The boosted fighters could help boost Taiwan’s air defenses in the face of China’s aggressive moves in the region.
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